The AFL was close to canceling the round 1 between Adelaide and Sydney last season because of a positive COVID-19 case to media personality Richard Wilkins.
The stunning story about how close the AFL was to canceling the round 1 game was revealed in AFL Media's Ashley Browne's new book A Season Like No Other: 2020.
Just a day before the encounter at Adelaide Oval, the AFL had to make a decision on whether to postpone the game after Swans pair Callum Sinclair and Sam Naismith were exposed to COVID-19.
The pair had a radio interview in the same Nova FM studios as Richard Wilkins who tested positive for the virus after interviewing Hollywood A-listers Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson.
The AFL's COVID-19 panel of club presidents, featuring Collingwood's Eddie McGuire, Hawthorn's Jeff Kennett, the Western Bulldogs' Peter Gordon and Sydney's Andrew Pridham had to convene to make a decision on the game.
In the book, McGuire recalls what was racing through his mind when informed about the possibility of the game being canceled.
"Of all things, Richard Wilkins is going to kill the football season!" McGuire recalls and reported by AFL.com.au's Callum Twomey.
Fortunately, the game was able to go ahead and the Swans came away with a three-point win.
